Adjustable form



1942- M. SCHLATTER ETAL ADJUSTABLEIEFORM Filed Aug, 26, 1959 Moses 50/4477519 and Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE?FORM Application August 26, 1939, Serial*No.'292,083' 8 Claims. (01.25-131) This invention relates to a form for moldin Walls ofcementitious' material such as concrete. It is the usual practice toconstruct forms of wood, in which concrete walls are molded, and inmanycases the walls must be formed with a chamber Within the Wall.

Metal forms have also been used involving the use of' outside formplates or units without corepl'ateswhere the wall is'to be a solid wall,but such metal forms often include core-plates that are held in positionbetween the outside plates so as to form a wall of two separate slabs.

The general object of this invention is to provide a form, the units ofwhich are adapted to be constructed of metalplates, and to provide thesame with means whereby theform can be readily adapted to produce Wallsof different thicknesses; also to provide a form construction includingcore-plates with means for readily setting the same in a fixed positionbetween the side plates of the form.

The ordinary methods employed for setting'up Wooden or metal forms,consume a considerable amount of time; and one of the objects of thisinvention is to provide a form of a very simple construction, which canbe very quickly set up, and at the same time, so constructed as toenable the thickness of the wall to be adapted to" special requirements.

In molding solid walls it is necessary to hold the mold walls apartready to receive the concrete. One of the objects of our invention is toprovide simple means for accomplishing this without necessitating theuse of spacers in the mold space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form of this kind withvery simple means-for enabling the core-plates to be set in positionbetween the outside plates, and also to provide very simple means forholding the core-plates in ad'- justed position between the side plates.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, core spacer means areprovided in connection with the core-plates, in the form ofsubstantially vertical core spacer-bar that are carried by one.- or theother of the opposed core-plates; and one of the objects of theinvention is to provide simple means for rotating the core spacer meansto set the same in their active positions to hold the core-plates spacedapart; also to provide the core spacer members with simple means forlocking the same in active position.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention -consists inthe novel parts and combination of parts to bedescribed hereinafter,-

are slid in position' from above.

all of which contribute to produce an efiicient adjustable form.

A preferred-embodiment of the invention is described in the followingspecification, while the broad scope'of theinventionis pointed outin theappended claims.

In the-drawing: I

Fig; 1 is3a fragmentary perspective with certain partsbroken away, andillustratingour form set up on a' wall that is being constructed withthe san'iel In -t-hisview certain parts are broken away for the sakeofclea-rness.

Fig. 2- isa-verticalsection taken through the lower portion of awall andillustrating our form setup on the same and readyfor pouring theupper'portionof the wall: Figs. 1- and 2 illustrate theform constructedto produce a hollow'wall.

Fig; 3 is a horizontal" cross-section illustrating a port-ion'of a formand aportion of asolid wall betweeii'tl'i'e'same.

Before pro'ceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, itshould bestated that in practicing the invention,- we provide outer sideplates that are supported in parallel'relation. If the wall is-to beasolid'wall, we give these side plates-a" special construction" to enablethem to cooperate with tie-bolts to maintain the side plates -in a-fixedrelation to-each other,-and at any'des'ired distance apart. This adaptsthe apparatus for forming a wall ofany desired thickness;

I-f-the-iorm is'to be-eniployed'for' making hollow walls; we provideai-speciai construction involving, heuse-o'f-core-plate hangers that areset up in 'positienbetweenthe side plates, and these hangers'operateasguides forthe core-plates that After this is done, spacer means carriedby the core-plates, ar -oper'at'd'at intermediate points along thelengthofthe wall so'as to spread the core-plates apart and 'hold them.against collapse.

Indoing this, cooperating means'dimits the spreading movm'erit o'fthecore-plates, and deterinines the thickn ess of th e wall slabs.

after the wan -hes been molded, the core spac'r's" reopera'ted'to'permit the core-plates to toward each other} thereby enabling themto be readily removed} and after they have "been removed and also' thecore-hangers, the outside pl'ates'th'atform' the"oute'r faces of theslabs, can bevery-qiiickly rmovedi One of the features of th"e'---construction is that the 'movable handle which-is empleyedioroperatingthe core spacer means, can-also be employed to' lock th core plates'aga'in'st approaching" each other.

We shall first describe Figs. 1 and 2 that illustrate the constructionof the form which is used for making a hollow wall. Referring to thesefigures, I and 2 illustrate two outside form units or plates. Theseplates are of substantially rectangular form, and are preferably formedwith marginal flanges 3, and at intervalswith vertical flanges 4 thatextend vertically across the plate bodies at intermediate pointsalongtheir length. In forming a wall, the outside plates I and 2 are setup in parallel relation and in horizontal tiers or sections. In Fig. 1 apartially constructed wall is illustrated, showing the completed lowerportion 5 of the wall, and in front of this wallthe figure shows a lowertier of outside form units including sections 2a.. At suitable pointsthe outside plates I and 2 are provided with aligning openings throughwhich tie-bolts f such as the bolts 6 (shown in Fig. 1) are placed. Eachof these bolts preferably has a head I on one end, and if desired mayhave threads 8 on the other end, capable of receiving a nut 9 if it isdesired to employ a nut. In a complete form, a set of these bolts 6would align with each other vertically as indicated in Fig. 2. Thisenables them to operate as a support for core-hangers I and II, saidcore-hangers preferably consisting of vertical bars formed with guidingmeans on their opposite edges for guiding core-plates I2 and I3. Thecore-hangers II are preferably constructed of tWo stout strips I4 with alongitudinal connecting strip I between the same, and in this wayprojecting flanges I6 are formed on each side, which form a guideway orslot I1 between the same, to receive the edges of the core-plates.

The opposite vertical edges of the core-hangers I0 and II are preferablyprovided with bayonet slots I8 having horizontal receiving throats andvertical bayonet extensions I9. This enables the hangers I0 and II to behung on the tiebolts 6 as soon as the side plates have been fixed inposition by the tie-bolts.

Associated with the tie-bolts 6, however, we

provide means for spacing the hangers I0 and I I with respect to theircorresponding side plates. This means may be in the form of slightlytapered thimbles or cones that are slipped onto the bodies of thetie-bolts when they are being put in position (see Figs. 1 and 2). Ifthese thimbles or cones are tapered, their large ends or butt ends aredisposed toward the outside plates. These large ends abut up against theinner faces of the side plates and the inner ends abut up against theside faces of the hangers I0 and II.

After the hangers have been put in place in this way, the core-plates I2and I3 are slid down into position, being guided in their descent by theguide grooves I1.

After the core-plates have been put in place in this way, they are thenlocked up; that is to say, they are secured in a fixed position, spreadapart, and abutting forcibly against the inner ends of the thimbles orcone sleeves. In order to accomplish this, we prefer to provide certainof the core-plates with lock-up means carried on their inner faces.While it would be possible to provide these lock-up devices on the innerfaces of all the core-p1ates,'we prefer to provide them only on one sideof the form. For example, in Fig. 1, we illustrate one of these lock-updevices 2| as of points this spacer bar is provided with cam means. Thiscam means is preferably constructed by Welding short strips 24 of a barlike the bar 22, in alignment with each other, to the side of the bar22. The lowermost of these pieces 24 is located under the lower bearingclip 23, and the uppermost one is located above the uppermost bearingclip 23. This secures the bar 22 in position. At the uppermost campiece24the bar 22 is forged into'a head 25 for the attachment of amovable handle 26. This handle enables the bars or rods 22tobe rotatedon their longitudinal axes, and the handle is preferably constructed sothat after rotating the locking rods or bars 22 into their lockingposition, the handle 26 can be moved into a position to hold the platesI2 and I3 spaced apart. For this purpose the handle 26 is preferably ofT-form, having a tongue 21 pivotally mounted in a.slot 28 in the head25. The cross bar of the T operates as a handle'that can project abovethe upp r edgeof the plate as indicated in Fig. 1, enabling the bar 22'to be rotated. After the, bar has been rotated into its; lockingposition with the cams engaging the inner face of the oppositecore-plate l3, the handle 26 can then be swung down on its pivotal 0onnection so that the ends of the cross bar of the T handle, are receivedagainst the inner faces of the core plates, as indicated at the rightinFig. 1;;

As the wall is run up, the flanges 3 of the upper section of theformwould be supported oncorresponding flanges 29 on the lower sections1 of the outside plates. Furthermore, as the courses of the wall aremolded, reinforcingrods 30 are set in place andextend up through thewall slabs 3| and 32. v In order to secure the side plates 2 in anyadjusted position on the tie-bolts 6, we prefer to provide the outersides of the side plates with socket brackets 33, through which the endportions of the tie-bolts 6 project. Although these 33 are formed withslots 35 to receive clamping means such as wedges 36. The taperededgesof these wedges come against the sides of the bolts, and when thewedges are driven up, they clamp the bolts securely inthe clips 33. Thesmall ends of the wedges are preferably formed with" a slight twist 31that prevents the wedges from falling out of the socket brackets 33when, the forms are being knocked down or set up. In

' other words, each socket bracket 33 has a wedge carried on the innerfaces of the core-plates l2, 7

Each of these lock-up devices preferably consists of a substantiallyvertical spacer bar 22 that is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings23 on the inner face of the core-plates. At a plurality to vertical ribs36 that becomes permanently. associated with it. In taking down theforms, the bolts' fi are first removed. They are used again in settingup the form. However, the slabs tied together, and this is preferablyaccomplished ateach course by means of a cross-tie such as the cross-tie38 illustrated in Fig. 1. This crosstie is held in place by means ofnotches 39 in the lower ends of the hangers, and each of thesecross-ties has a U-shaped body disposed in a horizontal position withupwardly extending spurs 40 that tie into the wall when the wall iscompletely molded. t In forming a solid wall 42 as indicated in Fig. 3,of course, no core-plates are employed, but merely two outside plates 43and 44 which, however, are provided with socket brackets ,45 welded 46and provided with slots similar to theslots 35 for receiving wedges"; In1 3i and 32 must be setting up the form for either a solid wall orhollow wall, of course, the bolt head 48 seats against the outer side ofone of these socket brackets 35, and the opposite plate 44 is pushed inon the bolt to give the wall 42 any desired thickness. Tln's plate M isthen clamped up by means of its wedge ll. The wedges hold the outsideplates spaced apart to receive the concrete. The nuts and bolt headsresist the pressure of the concrete and prevent the walls fromspreading.

The vertical flanges of the outside form plates are, of course, providedwith aligning holes 49 at which suitable means are provided for holdingthe form units in position, and for bracing them together by means ofhorizontal waler bars or stringers.

By reason of the fact that the butt ends of the distance sleeves orcones 2i] are located outwardly, it will be evident that they can bereadily removed from the wall slabs after the form has been taken down.

It will be evident that a form. having these features of constructiondescribed, can be very quickly set up to form a wall of any desiredthickness; and, furthermore, that the form can be very quickly takendown after the wall has been molded.

Many other embodiments of this invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a form for molding walls of cementitious material, the combinationof outer side plates to be supported in parallel relation, a pair ofcorehangers between the same having guide means for the adjacent edgesof core-plates, means for holding said core-hangers fixed in a spacedrelation, spaced from each other and from said side plates, andcore-plates capable of sliding down into position with their edgesguided in said corehangers.

2. In a form for molding walls of cementitious material, the combinationof outer side plates to be supported in parallel relation, a pair ofcore-hangers between the same having guide means for the adjacent edgesof core-plates, spacer members between each side plate and itscorresponding core-hanger, with means for supporting the same abuttingagainst the corehangers, means for fixing the side plates in contactwith the said spacer members so that the core-hangers will be held fixedand spaced from their corresponding side plates, hand-operated spacermeans between the core-plates for holding the same apart; andcore-plates with their edges guided in said core-hangers, and capable ofbeing slid down into position between the side plates.

3. In a form for molding walls of cementitious material, the combinationof outer side plates to be supported in parallel relation, a pair ofcoreplates, means for supporting the same between the side plates, acore spacer-bar, means for rotatably mounting the same on the inner faceof one of the core-plates, a pair of core-hangers between the sideplates, having guiding means for receiving the adjacent edges of thecore-plates, a tie-bolt passing through the said core-hangers andthrough the side plates, a handle movably attached to the upper end ofthe core spacer-bar for rotating the same into its active position, saidcore spacer-bar having means for engaging the opposite core-plate tohold the core-plates spaced irom each other, and spacers mounted on thetieebolts between the core-hangers and the side plates for-limiting thespreading movement of the core-hangers.

4. In a form for molding walls of cementitious material, the combinationof outer side plates to be supported in parallel relation, a pair ofcoreplates, means for supporting the same between the side plates, acore spacer-bar, means for rotatably mounting the same on the inner faceof one of the core-plates, a pair of core-hangers between the sideplates, having guiding means for receiving the adjacent edges of thecore-plates, a tie-bolt passing through the said core-hangers andthrough the side plates, a handle movably attached to the upper end ofthe core spacer-bar for rotating the same into its active position, saidcore spacer-bar having'means for engaging the opposite core-plate tohold the core-plates spaced from each other, spacers mounted on thetie-bolts between the core-hangers and the side plates for limiting thespreading movement of the core-hangers, and means on the outer sides ofthe side plates for securing the same to the tie-bolts.

5. In a form for molding walls of cementitious material, the combinationof outer side plates to be supported in parallel relation, a pair ofcoreplates, means for supporting the same between the side plates, acore spacer-bar, means for rotatably mounting the same on the inner faceof one of the core-plates, a pair of core-hangers between the sideplates, having guiding means for receiving the adjacent edges of the'coreplates, a tie-bolt passing through the said core-hangers andthrough the side plates, a handle movably attached to the upper end ofthe core spacer-bar for rotating the same into its active position, saidcore spacer-bar having means for engaging the opposite core-plate tohold the core-plates spaced from each other, spacers mounted on thetiebolts between the core-hangers and the side plates for limiting thespreading movement of the core-hangers, and clamping means carried onthe outer sides of said side plates for engaging the tie-bolts to securethe side plates to the tiebolts. 7

6. In a form for molding cementitious material, the combination of outerside plates to be supported in parallel relation, tie-bolts connectingsaid side plates, means for securing the side plates to the tie-bolts, apair of oppositely disposed core-hangers between the side plates havingguiding means for receiving and guiding the adjacent edges of thecore-plates, said corehangers having slots extending into the same fromtheir side edges on the same side of their longitudinal axes, enablingthe core-hangers to be moved laterally onto the said tie-bolts, corespacer means movably mounted on the inner sides of certain of saidcore-plates for giving a separating movement to the core-plates, andmeans mounted on the tie-bolts for limiting the separating movement ofthe core-plates to hold them in a predetermined position with respect tothe side plates.

'7. In a form for molding walls of cementitious material, thecombination of outer side plates to be supported in parallel relation, apair of coreplates, means for supporting the same between the sideplates, a core spacer-bar, means for rotatably mounting the same on theinner face of one of the core-plates, a handle movably attached to theupper end of the spacer-bar to swing on a horizontal axis in asubstantially vertical plane, and capable of swinging in a substantiallyhorizontal plane on the longitudinal axis of the spacer-bar, forrotating the spacerbar on its longitudinal axis into its activeposition, said core spacer-bar having means for engaging the oppositecore-plate to hold the spacer-bar locked, means for limiting theseparating movement of the core-plates for maintaining them at apredetermined distance from the side plates, said handle operating toswing downward on its horizontal axis of rotation after the corespacer-bar has been rotated into its active position, and having a headto engage the core-plates, and cooperate with the same to maintain thecore spacer-bar in its locked posi- ,tion.

8. In a form for molding walls of cementitious material, the combinationof outer side plates to be supported in parallel relation, a pair ofcore-plates, means for supporting the same between the side plates, acore space'r bar', means for rotatably mounting the same on theinnerface of one of the core-plates, a handle pivotally attached to the upperend of the core spacer-bar to swing on its pivotal axis in asubstantially vertical plane, and capable of swinging in a substantiallyhorizontal plane for rotating the spacer-bar on its longitudinal axisinto its active position, said core spacer-bar having means for engagingthe core-plates in a position to hold the same spaced from each other,means for limitingthe separating movement of the core-plates,

said handle operating to swing down on its piv-

